Find out when earaches become worrisome – causes, signs of infection, natural treatment
Earaches (otalgia) are more common among children, but that doesn’t mean adults can’t be affected. Most of the time, the cause of ear pain is an infection, such as otitis, which is quite common among children. It is estimated that 5 out of 6 children develop an ear infection by age 3. In adults, on the other hand, earaches can also signal other conditions, such as temporomandibular arthritis. Pain can also occur due to the use of ear sticks, which favor the accumulation of earwax and its blockage in the ear canal.
Earaches can appear suddenly or gradually, they can be severe, sharp, temporary or persistent, depending on the cause. Usually only one ear is affected, but sometimes there can be symptoms in both ears.
Otalgia can also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, discharge from the ear, headache or jaw pain or dizziness.
Find out below what are the most common causes of ear pain, what other symptoms can occur, when to see a doctor and what natural remedies can help.
Earaches: causes and risk factors
Among the most common causes of ear pain are infections and earwax build-up. Otitis is a common ear infection, especially in children, because little ones have an incompletely developed immune system and are more likely to develop complications. But adults can also face otitis, due to swimming in water contaminated with various bacteria.
Other causes of pain in the ears can be:
- allergies
- sinusitis
- streptococcal infections
- cold
- flu
- perforation of the eardrum
- mastoids
- using cotton swabs to clean the ear
- penetration of a foreign object into the ear
- dental abscess
- large and sudden changes in atmospheric pressure (barotrauma)
- temporomandibular arthritis
- lesions in the ear canal
- facial trigeminal neuralgia
What symptoms can accompany earaches
In most cases, earaches are accompanied by other symptoms, more or less intense, depending on the cause. These may consist of:
- fever
- auricular secretions
- partial hearing loss
- headache, jaw pain
- stuffy ear sensation
- noises in the ear (popping or ringing)
- difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
What are the signs of an ear infection?
If the earache is caused by a bacterial infection, symptoms such as: high fever, lack of appetite, dizziness (vertigo), insomnia, foul-smelling discharge from the ear (blood or pus) may also occur.
Without proper treatment, ear pain caused by an infection, such as otitis, can worsen, with the risk of complications such as hearing loss, meningitis, mastoiditis, scarring of the eardrum, or speech problems in children. Bacterial infections require antibiotic treatment recommended by a doctor.
Also, perforation of the tympanic membrane caused by trauma, infection or surgery can lead, in the absence of treatment, to complications such as: facial paralysis, vertigo, hearing loss, meningitis, encephalitis, polyps or epithelial tumors.
Natural treatment for earaches
Earaches caused by atmospheric pressure are temporary and can be relieved by chewing gum.
Cold or warm compresses kept on the ear for 20 minutes can be helpful when you are dealing with such pain caused by temporomandibular arthritis.
Also, sleeping with your head a little higher can help relieve pressure in the ear and relieve pain.
Probiotics and vitamin D supplements may also have a beneficial effect on earaches, but there is insufficient scientific evidence to support their effectiveness.
When to go to the doctor and how to treat earache
If the ear pain is accompanied by a fever over 38 degrees (in children) or 40 degrees (adults), dizziness, unusual secretions or other persistent symptoms of those mentioned above, it is important to see an ENT doctor as soon as possible for finding the cause.
Treatment will depend on the cause found. Symptomatic treatments (ibuprofen, paracetamol, etc.) are often sufficient. But if the symptoms persist for more than a few days, are severe and have an underlying infection, it is very possible that the doctor will recommend a treatment with antibiotics and ear drops.
If the pain is caused by a wax plug stuck in the ear canal – be careful, using ear sticks pushes the earwax to the eardrum, making the situation worse – it must be removed by a doctor with the help of special auricular solutions.
In case of otitis or perforated eardrum, the use of an auricular solution treatment is contraindicated.
How earaches can be prevented
Earaches can’t always be prevented, but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of ear infections or trauma.
These may consist of drying the ears with a dry soft towel after swimming or showering, using special earplugs, avoiding the use of sticks.
Also, to reduce the risk of dental infections that can also manifest through ear pain, a dental consultation is recommended once every 6 months.
Avoiding smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke is also important – second-hand smoke is frequently associated with otitis media in children.
Influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations also play an important role, as they prevent complications caused by viruses and bacteria.
